Sander



May 19, 1953 J. W. COVENEY.

SANDER 3 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1948 May 19, 1953 J. w. COVENEY 2,639,175

SANDER Filed Aug. 30, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o 0 o o o o 0 0 0'0 0.0.0. o u:

Jmemw coveneg,

y T953 J. w. COVENE'Y 2,639,175

SANDER Filed Aug 30, 1948' s Sheets-Sheet s fizz/em? Jafizca W 600% 6 A, fw w;

Patented May 19, 1953 stews SANDER James W. (l veliey,v W rtown, b esst a sign r to The P lmer Elec it Manutactunirig'Go-i Wakefield Mass-.., a corporation oi Massachusetts Application. August 30, 1948', Serial Nu 6,756,

1 Claims This invention relates to. san rs for v hieie such asmo or vehicles; and a ms; to; p ovidean improved shut-01f artaneement whi h. pnevents sand leelraee,v an to provide an. improved: stirter o promote the flow of. sand to and through. a houtv or oondiiit from; the hopp r to the outle 'lhe invent o will best be understood b ref-v reriee to. the followingdeseription when: t ken n con eotionw th th a c mpany n draw n s of one speo fio embod ment her of, while its scope w ll be pointed out mo a.rtrioolarly in the appended laims.

' In: the drawings:

Eig;-. 1 is a momentary pers ective iew of, a motQt-ttu h wi h a sender mou edodiacen on of} its dual whe lsth sander einepartly broken aw y-todiso ose; he mech ni m more p r cularly he-subi ot matter oi the nvention;

E a 27 s a plan f a porti n oi the hopper bo om and the sen er mech nism. carriedthereby;

Fie- 3 is a front elevatio partly in vertical ection;

Fig 4 isa vertical section on line l k on Fig: 3;

F le 5 is a v rtieal. section on line 5 5 on Figdis avertieakseotion n line awsonhie- 3; r

Fig; 7 is a wiring diagram for a, sixsvolt 01a Quit; an v Fig. 8- s a. wirin eramzior. a wel e-volt cir- Quit.

In Fig- 1- 116136 5 shown a portion: at a tru ha ng mounte on. itsframe a jacent the. wheels 34% hopper 5- for sand or other grit from which the grit-is dispensedby the; mechanism more fully disclosed in the other figures and forming the subject matter of the present invention. The ope ation. ofthis mechanism. is electrically contholl d it m a position convenient to the dri er, which. broadly considered, is conventional ininstallations of this kind. Grit is delivered when desired from the hopper 5 and. passes through spouts] to the round-immediately infront of the Wheels N n vel y is 1aim dinthe g n ral tru tur as so t r described. Inthe s ofa truck having dual rear wheels, it is:desirab1ethat he ander be ual.

Referringnow to theotherfiguresof the drawings-ahdibegihn ne thedescripti of th embodi men o the inventio illu rated here n, as an example, the mechanism other. than the e tr ontrol switch so. to be referr toand the wiring) may-b organized n a plate ewhioh forms apart of the bottom of the hopper 5.

Sand. o other rit, supp ed fromv the hopp is discharged through a member-inthenatute of a conduit, w nresentlyto be described, the outlet 2; oi hich is control-led, o s ut oii. L2 in t a usef a V81YQ-QHQDB1QW and close t theoiit= le of. the onduit. and which tnav rsessaid ut: let snd-Whioh ontaiosa smal amount of sand 1 8* ma nns f om he ost. disehar formin thelzein a sand alfoe th oondnit. openin and, olos= ins he conduit there s no sliding or rubb ng aotion in fa t, there is no eon-tact of. h alve eon H; with thoeonduit t0 Thus-the, valtewup so called. di ers. o the us l valve. or valve head that cooperates with a valve-seat by maize mg ea ing cont ct. thexewith, Tothis en t eonduit to is presided w th a flexible shirt It. in th natute of a length oi a rubber tube, applied to and about, th conduit It and depending therefro see F g- 4), but. spaced slightly from the. valve-cup I and conform n to the shape of th l tter.

In h pr s nt: ins ance, the valv s-cup l2 is oylindricel. in p r open a he top and has olosed ends, one oi which i afiixed as. by a, s r w it threaded i to t e end ot a shaft l-8 h eh tu ns bear ngs. affixe to hr-a he s .22 attached to the supoo tir e a e it The shaft, Is is rot ted, at wi li-a by mechanism: uc as or e ample, t at. shownv at Fig' fii in liiding a so en id 2A oomptising, an a mature Z6 m vable w thin a eo lz housed in a housing: flixedo the ton-oi he pl te 8, The a mature .25 RIQJ' B through the pla e: 8 and has! ahixed to i a y e 33 hav ng a slot. as within which more. isa pin soon a c ank a m 38 aiiixedt the shaft as h as looki g p ec 40 s teweldedoth crank arm 3 and embraw ine flats $2 on the shait t8. In h s e mnl ithe haft 18 turnsthroueh an angle, asior example, 90% resp ns to an im uls urnished to-the co l 28- The down o pe pos tion is shown in Fig! 6.

Returnin how to th conduit it. see. Fig f he latter its-r gidly aiilxfid sby soin ineat 414, to the plate 8,. the latt r formin at least'a par of he hottomof: he opper for the sand ASSQQir ated. with the ih etof the nduit l0, here is a stirrer lev r 41! exte di g above he in e of th conduit in topromote the flow r endirQm-th hopper. tothe outietotth nduit.- This stirrer 48, is in the. present in t nce operated-r y the valvereup I 2- Thelattentothis end, provided withashou der to rike a shoulder 52 on the stirrer 8. th reby tooause the-letter to move in the region o the inlet; of. the conduit It.v The stirr i: tt isf nountedibetw en itsends n the plat *8; ashya a movable mo nt itehereih in heriatu e oia hloqk oI-riibhei: eboii he. stirre nd e tend inshrough thepl 8'- end lamped to he plate by a clamp 55. The plate 8 has a hole 58 and the clamp 5 6 has a hole 68, through which the stirrer 48 extends to furnish a resilient mounting, thereby to prevent contact of the stirrer 48 except through the cushioning action of the rubber mount 54. In this instance, the stirrer 48 curves laterally above and in line with the inlet of the conduit In to influence the stream of sand as it approaches the inlet. The actuating portion of the stirrer below the plate is relatively short and a relatively slight range of movement thereof produces a. considerable movement of the actuating portion above the plate and received in the body of sand. As will be apparent from Fig. 3, the movement of the curved over end of the stirrer will have a substantial reciprocation vertically directly above the inlet to the conduit and will thus operate with as a blade which has a pumping action effective to force sand to and through the conduit, breaking up obstructions caused by interengagement of granules in a more or less coherent, self-maintaining structure. If desired, the stirrer 48 may have a depending portion 62 afllxed to or loosely attached to its upper portion above the inlet of the conduit ID. If desired, the shoulder 52 may have a second function, namely, to strike the conduit In to promote the flow of the sand through the conduit and least on the initial opening movement of the cup l2 when it moves against shoulder 52 with considerable momentum.

In addition to the described mechanism, the stirrer 48, the latter has other means to cause the same to vibrate under the influence of an electric circuit (see Fig. 7) while the valve-cup l2 remains away from the outlet of the conduit In. This circuit is controlled by an arm 64 (see Fig. 5) affixed to the shaft l8 and having a striker 66 adjustably mounted on the arm, as by a screw 88 extending through the arm. The arm 64 is adjustably mounted on the shaft I8, as by a screw 18 passing through the shaft and having a nut 12 and lock-nut 14. As the arm swings upwardly, the striker 66 strikes a switch 16 included in a circuit (see Fig. 7, or Fig. 8) now to be described, affixed to the supporting plate 8 (see Fig. 5).

The circuit (see for example, Fig. 7) includes a battery 18 (in this case 6 volt), the current being controlled by a control switch 80 operated by hand or foot. The coil 28, associated with the armature 26, is operated by switch 16 associated with a suitable condenser 82. The switch 16 is a single-pole, single-throw, with normally closed contacts. One such switch, called Micro" is made by Micro Switch Company, of Freeport, 111., under Pat. No. 2,170,748. The arrangement is that there is a repeating cycle in the circuit so long as the control switch 80 remains closed by the operator. In other words, when the control switch is closed, it energizes the solenoid, thus causing the armature to rise, and actuating the sander mechanism; then, at the instant the mechanism reaches the end of the travel, it actuates the vibrator switch T6, breaking the circuit. This permits the armature 26 to drop back, thus causing the switch 16 to close, reclosing the circuit. The armature 26 is drawn up, once more, and the cycle is repeated so long as the operating switch 88 remains closed. In operation, the current is actually flowing about half the time, because the circuit is continually opened and closed. Therefore, instead of drawing 7 amperes continuously, it is drawing 7 amperes only half the time, which gives an average current flow, during the period of operation, of only 3 amperes.

Some trucks are provided with a 12 volt battery (see Fig. 8) in which case the circuit is modified to the extent that one-half of the voltage of the battery is used for two solenoids. In Fig. 6 the solenoids are connected in parallel, in Fig. 7 in series. The three dots shown in the figures adjacent the switches 83 are points of connection existing in a commercial switch as above identifled which permit such alternate methods of wiring. In each instance one of them is not used.

There are many advantages, (1) the stirrer in the form shown serves to form an arch over the inlet of the conduit and prevents packing of the sand, (2) in the opening action the valvecup taps the stirrer, causing it to move sharply among the massed grits, causing them to flow, (3) when the initial opening action is completed, the arrangement described causes repeated oscillation of the valve-cup throughout a small range adjacent its open position while the discharge end of the conduit remains fully open. This is communicated to the lower end of the stirrer, and the end of the stirrer above the base plate is given a relatively great reciprocating movement having a substantial vertical component toward and away from the inlet end of the conduit, producing a pumping action to drive the sand into and through the conduit. This continues while the cup is in the open position, (4) the relationship of the lower end of the stirrer to the outlet of the conduit may be such that, when the stirrer is struck by the valve-cup, at least in the initial opening movement when the cup has substantial momentum. the lower actuating end of the stirrer will be driven against the side of the conduit to strike a percussive blow effective to start into motion the column of sand in the conduit, (5) the flexible mounting of the stirrer lever provides a loose pivot so that when its lower end is struck by the valve-cup it operates as a lever, its upper end moving through a relatively long path as described, (6) the continual make and break action reduces the mean current comsumption from 7 amperes on a continuously closed circuit to 3.5 amperes, (7) the flexible skirt on the outlet of the conduit allows the valve-cup to open and to close with a minimum of friction or drag from the grits, (8) without the flexible skirt on the outlet of the conduit, the following will result:

(a) If the rigid tube is extended far enough toward the valve-cup to prevent leaking of the grits, the latter will jam or wedge between the valve-cup and the tube and prevent the valvecup from opening.

(b) If a rigid outlet tube be shortened enough to prevent jamming of grits, the valve-cup will open when it should, but the grits will leak from the hopper when the vehicle is driven over a rough road.

(0) The clearance between the rigid tube and the valve-cup which would be necessary in order to accomplish either of the above purposes varies with each and every different grit size, whereas, with the flexible skirt, this is not a factor, and (9) for any given size of outlet conduit or tube there is a limit to the size of grit which will flow through it by gravity alone, because of the tendency of larger grits to crowd at the entrance to the outlet conduit. When this happens, the grits will form an arch and cease flowing. This tendency is greatly reduced by the action of the stirrer.

Having described one embodiment of the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a road sander for vehicles of the type having a depending discharge 'eonduit'for. the

gravity discharge oi send, a cup mounted 2741 11131.,

cent the outlet end of the conduit having a:' closed:

position ben-eath butspao'cd from said outlet end providing for the accumulation of sand therein to seal the outlet and open position laterally removed fromtheconduit, means for moving the cup between open and closedpositions, the con bination therewith of a stirrer having aportion extending. above the inlet end oi'the conduitand a portionextending into the path. of movement of said cup,,a support for saidi stirrer, means'to effect 'a reciprocation of the stirrer withat least a substantial vertical component of movement 05 saidportion toward and fromjthe inlet of said conduit when the cup moves to, open; position and cooperating means effective while the cup is in open position to effect repeated like reciprocations;

22 In a road sander for vehicles of the type having a depending discharge conduit for the gravity discharge of sand, a cup mounted adjacent the outlet end of the conduit having a closed position beneath but spaced from said outlet end providing for the accumulation of sand therein to seal the outlet and an open position laterally removed from the conduit, means for moving the cup between open and closed positions, the combination therewith of a stirrer having a portion extending above the inlet end of the conduit and a portion projecting into the path of movement of the cup, a resilient sup-port for the stirrer, and means operated consequentially to the movement of the cup to, and effective while it is in, open position, to effect repeated oscillations of the cup through a small range adjacent its open position to cause it repeatedly to strike the stirrer to efiect reciprocating movement of the stirrer with at least a substantial vertical component of movement of said portion toward and from the inlet of the conduit,

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the cup has a portion which as the cup travels to open position moves toward the side of the conduit and transmits a percussive blow thereto.

4. In a sander for vehicles a base plate having a discharge conduit depending therefrom for the gravity discharge of sand, a closure member having a closed position beneath the outlet end of the conduit and an open position remote therefrom, a stirrer lever, a flexible mounting on the plate laterally of the conduit for said lever, said lever having a relatively short actuating portion beneath the plate in the path of movement of said closure member, and an actuated portion extending above the plate and curved over and above the inlet end of the conduit in spaced relation thereto and means operated consequentially to the movement of the closure member to, and effective while it is in, open position, to effect repeated oscillations of the actuating portion of the stirrer lever and corresponding reciprocations of the actuated end thereof including vertical component toward and from the inlet of the conduit.

5. In a sander for vehicles a base plate having a discharge conduit depending therefrom for the gravity discharge of sand, a closure member having a closed position beneath the outlet end of the conduit and an open position remote therefrom, a stirrer having a sand-moving blade portion positioned over and above the inlet end of the conduit, a resilient mounting for said stirrer, and means including an offset portion of said stirrer normally positioned in the path of movement of? the closure towards; open-vocation operable when, and-3 effective while, the cunt is: in open position to efiect repeated oscillations; of said. blade with: substantial: vertical components. toward' and; from the inlet: of the conduit.

6; Th'ecombination of; claim wherein Said bladehas an extension depending;therefrom:and

entering the conduit.

7; In a road? sander for vehiclosof' the type thereofproviding for the accumulation; of: sandtherein to seal the outlet and. an open-position laterally removed. from the: discharge end of the pipe, the combination with, said; pipe of; adspendingskirtzoi flexible material constit ting in client. a continuation of the pipe he lower end. of the skirt; opposing but being, paced from the inner wall of the cup when the latter is in closed position.

8. In a road sander for vehicles of the type having a depending tubular discharge pipe for the gravity discharge of sand therethrough, and a cup mounted adjacent the pipe having a closed position beneath but spaced from the outlet end thereof providing for the accumulation of sand therein to seal the outlet and'an open position laterally removed from the discharge end of the pipe, the combination with said cup and pipe of a tubular member of freely flexible material mounted on one of said parts and in the closed position of the cup being concentric with the pipe, with its end spaced from the other part.

9. In a road sander for vehicles of the type having a depending discharge conduit for the gravity discharge of sand, a cup mounted adjacent the outlet end of the conduit having a closed position beneath but'spaced from said outlet end providing for the accumulation of sand therein to seal the outlet and an open position laterally removed from the conduit, means for moving the cup between open and closed positions, the combination thereof with a stirrer having a vertically extending body portion, resilient means supporting the body portion of said stirrer for oscillatory movement in a vertical plane, said stirrer having a portion at one side of its mounting extending into the path of movement of the material traveling through said conduit, and a portion below its mounting normally positioned in the path of movement of said cup, whereby the cup upon movement will engage the portion of the stirrer below the mounting to produce oscillatory movement of same in the material and in the plane of movement of the material.

10. The structure of claim 9 characterized in that the stirrer has its upper end bent into a position immediately above the inlet of the conduit and its lower end immediately adjacent the conduit for receiving the impact of the moving cup.

11. The structure of claim 9 characterized in that the resilient mounting provides a pivotal point for the stirrer adjacent its point of contact with the cup, and the upper portion of the stirrer which oscillates in the traveling material is spaced substantially from the pivotal point to thereby provide for multiplication of movement due to engagement of the cup with the depending portion of the stirrer.

12. The structure of claim 9 characterized in that the resilient mounting is in the form of a rubber pad which embraces and supports a portion of the vertically extending body portion to effect repeated oscillations of the stirrer after initial movement.

13. In a road sander for vehicles of the type having a depending discharge conduit for the gravity discharge of sand, a cup mounted adjacent the outlet end of the conduit having a closed position beneath but spaced from said outlet end providing for the accumulation of sand therein to seal the outlet and an open position laterally removed from the conduit, means for moving the cup between open and closed positions, the combination therewith of a stirrer having an end portion extending above the inlet end of the conduit, and a depending oil'set end portion normally positioned in the path of move ment of said cup, and a resilient mounting for said stirrer supporting the same intermediate its ends for oscillatory movement in a vertical plane, whereby engagement of the cup with the depending portion of the stirrer will effect movement of the same towards and away from the inlet of the conduit.

JAMES W. COVENEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 589,417 Collins Sept. 7, 1897 870,101 Hensley Nov. 5, 1907 870,111 Levy Nov. 5, 1907 936,567 Ross Oct. 12, 1909 1,990,253 Schonig Feb. 5, 1935 2,232,422 Atwood Feb. 18, 1941 2,321,395 Kirk June 8, 1943 2,469,980 Myshrall May 10, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 350,779 France June 26, 1905 

